Test virus

The European Institute for Computer Anti-Virus Research (EICAR), along with antivirus software vendors, has developed a test file that can be used in checking your installation and configuration.

The file is not an actual virus; it will cause no harm and it will not replicate. Rather, it is a specially created file whose "signature " has been included in the Trend Micro virus pattern file and as such, can be detected by the virus scan engine.

You can download this file from:

www.antivirus.com/vinfo/testfiles/

Alternatively, copy the following text into a text editor and then save the file with a *.COM extension.

X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*

You may need to disable real-time scanning before downloading the file and make sure no other antivirus products are running. Once on your machine, you can use the test virus to see for yourself how PC-cillin's various scanning features work.